The Eagles have a very deep roster. The expanded depth will lead to crowded competitions. Battles that would typically feature two or three players could involve as many as eight or nine legitimate competitors this year.

Quick Thoughts: Grugier-Hill started at outside linebacker last season and he is a favorite to retain that role. Brown was signed earlier this month and seems to be the favorite for the middle linebacker job. Behind that duo are Fort, Worrilow and Gerry, who can all play WILL and MIKE linebacker. While Grugier-Hill and Brown are front-runners, a lot can happen between now and the end of the preseason.

Quick Thoughts: The linebacker group is surrounded by mystery. While the projected starting group will have some serious competition, the two or three spots behind the first unit are completely up in the air. Worrilow is probably the most versatile player of the bunch but he’s also coming off ACL surgery. Gerry has been a project at the position for two seasons and he needs a very big leap in development to stick around. Fort was a priority signing for the Eagles in free agency due to his special teams prowess and defensive upside. Bello, Singleton, Edwards and Alfieri are all probably competing for the final spot at linebacker, as all four players have special teams potential with room to grow on defense as well.

Quick Thoughts: Mills, Darby and Jones dealt with significant injuries last season, which allowed Douglas, Maddox and LeBlanc to emerge in their absences. This is a very compelling competition as there are several combination choices for Week 1. Mills and Darby have been starters the last two seasons and the latter is almost assured a starting job if he’s healthy. Mills may have competition on the outside with Douglas emerging last season. LeBlanc, Jones and Maddox could battle it out for the starting nickel corner job. Maddox is the most versatile of the trio, as he can play all three corner spots and free safety.

4. How will the Eagles fill out the offensive line behind the starters and Andre Dillard?

Quick Thoughts: The Eagles have a very talented starting offensive line but right guard Brandon Brooks is coming off Achilles surgery. One of the key storylines of the offseason will be focused on how the Eagles prepare for Brooks’ potential absence at the start of the season. Wisniewski was re-signed following rookie minicamp and he is probably the favorite for that job. However, don’t be surprised if the Eagles use Vaitai at guard this offseason. If both Wisniewski and Vaitai are healthy after the preseason, they should be on the Week 1 roster as starters or reserves. With the two veterans filling spots behind the starters and Dillard, eight young players will be competing for one or two openings. That competition could be pretty intense in training camp and the preseason.

Quick Thoughts: Smallwood and Adams should highlight this competition. With Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders and Corey Clement taking up the first three spots on the depth chart, the next man up will need to offer versatility on offense. Smallwood is probably the most well-rounded running back in the competition but he is also the player with the most trade value. If another team’s starting running back suffers a major injury during training camp, Smallwood could be a trade chip as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. The team is also high on Adams, who is coming off offseason labrum surgery. Scott and Pumphrey may compete for a job at kick returner.

Quick Thoughts: Hollins and Gibson are former draft picks who should be vying for one spot. The team has invested in both players and now it’s sink-or-swim time. Miller and Johnson have NFL experience to draw from but they’ll need to stick out on special teams to earn jobs. Thompkins is the most appealing of the rest of the bunch due to his stellar punt returner prowess.

Quick Thoughts: This is one of the few competitions where everyone has experience. If the Eagles prefer Maddox at cornerback, he should receive a shot at a starting spot in the secondary. Outside of Maddox, Sullivan, Sendejo and Countess all should have equal opportunities to prove themselves. All three players can thrive on special teams but their performances on defense will matter in this competition. Sullivan played very well in the role to close out last season, while Sendejo has plenty of starting experience. Countess, a returning draft pick, is the wild card of this funky bunch.

Quick Thoughts: This competition could very interesting. The Eagles have invested draft picks in Sweat and Miller, while Ostman and Hall have impressed the front office behind the scenes. While Sweat’s rookie season was forgettable, he is the clear favorite to take over for Long. Sweat is athletic and has plenty of upside but he will need to stand out in the preseason to earn regular snaps. Hall and Ostman are dark horses, while Miller is more of a developmental pass rusher. The Eagles could look to add a proven player to the mix here but they shouldn’t feel the need to force a move.